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Halifax Co., VA -
His survival is being called a miracle. The three-year-old boy, who spent a night in the woods in freezing temperatures in Halifax County, is home. Jaylynn Thorpe left his hospital room Monday afternoon.
The Virgilina toddler wandered away from his babysitter on Friday afternoon and spent 21 hours in the woods in below-freezing temperatures.
We're hearing there are two heroes that kept Jaylynn alive. Jaylynn says the puppies kept him warm, and helped him survive during that cold, cold night.
Jaylynn-- Dipstick!
You could call it loyalty. Two puppies, following a three-year-old boy into the woods. But staying with him through the night, keeping him warm, saving his life? Folks here have another word for that.
Katherine Elliott, Grandmother - "It's a miracle those two stayed with him."
But Jaylynn says it's just friendship.
Sarah- Are the doggies your best friends? Jaylynn-- yeah.
And who could disagree? Friends stick together. And Jaylynn, Dipstick, and Bootsy did.
Jaylynn Thorpe - " I went in the woods and with the dogs."
For 21 hours. When he was scared, they kept him company.
Jaylynn - "I was playing with them in the wood."’
When he got thirsty, he says the puppies helped him find water.
Sarah Ingram, Mother - "He told me that him and the dogs got their own water out the pond."
And when he was cold...
Elliott - "Cuddled up with him and kept him warm."
Wilma Vaughan, Owns dogs - "He knows they kept him warm"
Though Jaylynn may not yet understand the magnitude of his rescue, he knows the puppies were there for him when he couldn't find anyone else. And that Jaylynn hasn't forgotten. He even saved some of his favorite food— French fries— for the pups.
Jaylynn-- More french fries!
After all, that's what friends are for?
Friends and family say Jaylynn has always had a close relationship with Dipstick, the darker dog.
We're told the puppies' owners have offered to give one of the dogs to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department to be trained as a search and rescue dog.
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